(Edited 30/01/25)

I do not own Fairy Tail Hiro Mashima does.

The Destined Meeting

*POTD*

Three years had passed since Elise had found herself at the mercy of the children of Kihetai Village, and it appeared that her life was finally starting to look up.

Although the Wasting Curse still gnawed at her from within, Gentou's newfound position as the High Priest of the village had the people treating her with respect. And although she still had no real friends beyond the wolves and Gentou, that didn't overly bother her.

Within the first few months following the incident, it became apparent that the adults of Kihetai believed Elise to be blessed by their God in some way, and that her frail condition was some sort of trial the War God had thrust upon her in order to test her worthiness as his chosen.

Absolute nonsense, in her opinion.

The wolves did follow her around, which was admittedly rather strange. But Elise knew her condition wasn't related in the slightest. What's more, her studies of the library yielded absolutely nothing of relevance to anything the cult actually did, baffling both her AND Gentou, who had expected to find something more substantial on their God.

There were certainly signs of some outside, unseen force that was manipulating things, but it was hard to definitively prove it.

The wolves and their strange intelligence were certainly interesting, but not definitive proof by itself. But the exact children who had targeted her began to go missing, one by one, being found out where she had been bound, also bound, yet with seemingly no explanation.

But what made this an issue to the village was that, unlike Elise, these children didn't have the favor of the wolves. Thus, they were found dead, frozen and occasionally partially eaten by predators out in the woods.

None could blame Elise, as her alibi was solid, which left only their God as the culprit…

And that didn't seem to sit well with some of the parents of the children. Nor did it sit well with those who remained, frightened that they would be next to vanish and wind up bound and frozen to death.

The situation had only snowballed from there, as the true dedication to the people's faith in their War God was tested… And they came up lacking.

Fights, both verbal and physical, would often break out among the cultists. Some accusing their neighbors of heresy, or being behind the attacks. They never ended well, and only caused further damage to the cult as a whole.

And then, as the cult struggled, that was when the thefts started.

Food, weapons, and other vital supplies, all going missing over the course of a few weeks. Selfish cultists began hoarding and stashing these supplies, refusing to reveal their location even upon the threat of execution by Gentou.

And when the cult was most divided, talk of Gentou's leadership came into question, though none dared challenge him openly. After all, he was far too powerful, even now being almost sixty years old.

All in all, a rather grim situation for Kihetai.

As for Elise herself, she remained devoted to her studies, sitting before the dais and scribbling furiously into a scroll as she studied the Ebony Blade. The Priests around her murmured, many singing her praises for her seemed devotion to the War God, assuming she was preparing herself to be their avatar.

As she wrote, Gentou stopped next to her, looking down at her frail form before looking over toward the blade. His eyes were heavier than they'd ever been, yet his determination remained unwavering.

Especially toward Elise.

"Still scribbling away, are we," Gentou chuckled, eliciting a roll of the eyes from the young girl.

"I'm watching the way the blade reacts each time someone new enters the chamber," Elise replied, not looking up at him. "If the Magic within it shifts a certain way toward someone in particular, then it might lead to a breakthrough?"

"Well, that's certainly a fair assumption," Gentou admitted thoughtfully. "However, there could be any number of reasons as to why an odd shift could occur. You know that, right?"

"Of course I know that Gentou! But you've got to understand that all my other research says only someone chosen can wield that blade! This means that if this chosen happened to enter the area, there would be some sort of swing in the blade's Magical Signature!"

"Perhaps. But again, all of that is mere assumption based on evidence you don't truly possess," Gentou chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Still, I'm delighted to see you so passionate about researching the Ebony Blade."

"You say that every day Gentou, before telling me to go eat something to keep my strength up, THEN asking if I've spoken with any of the children in the village," Elise replied with a huff. "And then, I will respond by saying that they don't like me and avoid me, and I'm fine with that."

Gentou simply sighed, shooting her a sad look as he moved to sit down next to her. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her into his side gently for a hug.

"Elise, I'm just concerned about you. It isn't normal for a girl your age to be so…so work driven like you are. You're only nine years old, and yet you spend all your time studying and researching, sometimes even behaving like you have the mental capacity of a twenty year old…"

"Is that a bad thing?"

You don't play with anyone. You don't rest at normal hours. You don't even try to make friends anymore… I'm just really worried that you'll let your childhood pass you by Elise, you understand? Being a child is important, as it helps you grow and learn through trial and error, a core part of what will define you as an adult."

"Gentou, you know I can't have that," Elise whispered, looking down at her lap sadly. "Daily floggings, attempted drownings, asphyxiation… Those were just a few things I had to handle before you rescued me from my parents and that Dark Guild. I was a slave, Gentou, and a badly treated one at that. From the moment I could remember anything, I was already changed by that kind of treatment…"

One of the wolves nearby padded over and placed its head in her lap, as she gave it a gentle scratch behind the ears.

"Even the incident three years ago proved that I need to try harder if I want to live, to prove to everyone I deserve to live."

"Elise-."

"I have to make sure I'm ready for the future Gentou," Elise continued, not giving the old man a chance to cut her off. "I won't be weak anymore, and I won't become a slave!"

"It can't be denied that your early life was horrific, I agree," Gentou replied, yet another sigh escaping him as he pondered how to respond. "Most children would have fully broken under what you endured, yet you managed to overcome it and became the smart young girl you are today. Nobody can fault you for thinking the way that you do, Elise. But all I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't forget that you ARE a child, and you should act like one at least once in a while, right?"

"I sometimes consider it. But whenever I see one of the other kids shy away from me, or hear one of the adults whisper about how I'm the War God's Chosen, it makes it hard," Elise muttered in reply, her disappointment evident in her tone. "So, if I can't have that, then I'm better off preparing myself for being an adult, right?"

Gentou didn't have a response, since she wasn't wrong in what she was saying. A further testament to her unnatural intelligence and her resolve to grow stronger, despite her unfortunate circumstances.

The old man sighed as he gently released her, slowly rising to his feet as he looked out across the room, noticing many of the Priests whispering among themselves. They thought themselves silent, but he could hear them.

Whispers about how Elise had given him some sort of Divine Insight among other such nonsense permeated the topic. It was only further proof Elise was actually right, that there was little hope of her ever having a normal childhood.

'This place, its no place for a child,' the old man thought to himself as he turned to leave, only for Elise to gently grip his left pant leg.

"All that being said… If you like, once you aren't busy, we could go and get some chocolate ice cream…maybe?"

"We can definitely do that Elise, I promise," Gentou smiled lightly, ruffling her hair affectionately before walking away.

He would do what he could for her, no matter if she wanted to discard her childhood or not.

For that was his duty, as he had promised her…

*POTD*

Several hours later, Elise had just finished some of her writings, an empty bowl of ice cream to her left.

After taking a break to get ice cream with Gentou, she had returned feeling quite happy, almost reinvigorated with energy. After writing and reading for several more hours, she decided to call it a day.

Stretching, she noticed one of the wolves approaching her. This was the largest of the male wolves, and it immediately grabbed her by the sleeve, motioning for her to follow.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

The wolf tugged again, before turning around and heading to the exit of the temple, motioning for her to follow it once again. And so, with a shrug, she did exactly that.

The wolf led her out into the temple ground, where many of the other ones had gathered, slipping through a hole in the wall. The moment they saw her, they all started howling, slipping back through the wall once again.

The largest male wolf bumped her toward the hole, urging her to follow them. Not seeing any reason not to, she did as they asked, and crawled through the hole.

The largest male wolf simply jumped over the wall, too large to fit, and landed next to her, before taking point into the forest. The other wolves closed ranks around her, which made her feel much safer heading into the forest.

"Are we heading to your den or something," Elise asked aloud, more curious than expecting any sort of answer, as they headed deep into the forest.

By the time they reached their destination, the young girl was feeling tired, her illness making long distance walks a struggle, though the wolves allowed her to lean on them for support.

As for the largest male one, he padded toward a massive hole in the ground, looking down and growling lowly. This was a surprise for her since not once had she heard any of the wolves growl in her presence, though thankfully it wasn't at her.

"Y-You want me to look in the hole," Elise asked cautiously, as the wolf simply stepped aside, allowing her to step up to the edge.

Slowly, Elise moved to stand on the edge, cautiously looking down before immediately stepping back and falling on her rear, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and fear.

"W-W-What was-!?"

The young girl could only babble as she tried to process what she had just seen. The largest male wolf had clearly brought her here to show her what was down there, wanting her to know about it.

So, gathering her courage, she crawled to the edge of the hole again and peered down into it, wishing she hadn't.

The first thing that hit her was the stench, followed immediately by the horrific image she hadn't seen since she was enslaved by her Dark Guild parents…

Within the hole lay a mountain of discarded corpses. Some were fresh, others having been there for quite some time. All the bodies had been treated rather savagely, with some missing limbs, chunks or being outright eviscerated.

"S-So much death," Elise whispered, as the largest wolf pulled her away and into the bushes, right as an unfamiliar voice spoke aloud nearby.

"Oi! You guys done yet!? COME ON, FUCKING MOVE IT! We're on a bloody schedule here!"

Elise felt her breath still, the wolves all doing the same around her as a man walked past the spot she had been laying only moments prior. He was dressed head to toe in robes that she couldn't have forgotten even if she wanted to…

"It's them," Elise shakily mouthed to herself, struggling to contain her trembling, as several more walked past carrying bodies of people she knew…

People from the village.

Dump them in there," the man ordered, as the others tossed the bodies into the giant hole without hesitation. "So, how many of these bastards are left?"

Elise felt her blood run cold when she saw one of the children from the village approach the man, a dark smirk on his face as he handed him a piece of paper. It was the same boy who led the group of children that tried to kill her, and one of the few who hadn't disappeared.

"Nice," the Dark Mage chuckled. "Looks like there's only a small group of them left up in the village itself. Shouldn't be too hard to kill them? But kid, is that sword still up in the temple?"

"Yeah. The High Priest won't let anyone near it, but you guys should be able to take him out easily enough," the kid replied, as the adults all laughed.

"You know, you'll fit in well with us kid," the leader of the group laughed, as the others all agreed, voicing their support. "Selling out your own village just so you can learn Dark Magic, that's pretty fucking hardcore!"

"They all deserve it anyway. After that old bastard Gentou got made High Priest, the place has become weak and pathetic! As long as I get to kill that freak you guys can steal and take everything from that place."

"Don't worry kid, we're definitely not gonna steal your kill from ya," the Dark Mage chuckled. "Still, I'm curious to see this freak you keep talking about? A strong hate like that is hard to come by…"

"She took everything from me and my family," the kid growled, clenching his fists. "My Dad was supposed to be the High Priest, and I should be the chosen one! Well fuck that place… I'll show them what a real War God's chosen can do!"

"You hear that guys!? This kid is definitely gonna fit in with us," the leader laughed, as they all cheered, tossing the last of the bodies in the pit. "All of you go on ahead and get ready, we're attacking Kihetai in the next hour!"

The Dark Mages and the kid all cheered before departing, leaving the leader alone to stare off into the abyss of the giant hole.

"Pathetic trash," the man sneered, tossing a ball of flame into the hole as a massive explosion tore through the area, a bright pillar of fire erupting from the hole as the stench of melting flesh struck Elise and the wolves.

By now, Elise was on the verge of having a panic attack, as she looked toward the wolves. All of them were snarling off in the direction of the Dark Mages, save for the largest male. He simply stared at Elise, almost waiting for her to tell them what to do.

"W-W-We've got to get back as quickly as we can," Elise managed to blurt out, her entire body shaking, a thick sheen of sweat across her skin as she processed what just happened. "W-We've gotta warn Gentou!"

The wolf seemed to agree, as two others forced her onto his back, before the entire pack took off in the direction of Kihetai as fast as they could.

*POTD*

Arriving on the edge of the village, Elise and the wolves stopped as she took in the sheer scale of what was happening.

"What…What is this!?"

Having only seen four Dark Mages plus the traitorous child from their village, Elise assumed it was going to be a small force attacking the village. But what was going on down below was nothing short of a full-on siege.

"B-But Gentou said they wiped out the Dark Guild that…"

Elise couldn't even finish speaking, so shocked by what she saw that the wolves decided to just continue onward.

Down below, hundreds of Dark Mages swarmed Kihetai, battling against the Cultists in a vicious and bloody war between two Dark Guilds. Spellfire and the sound of clashing steel, cries of anger, outrage and agony were drowned out by the near constant explosions that were going off all over the place.

As for Elise and the wolves, they managed to avoid most of the fighting by skirting the village to return to the temple, which had sustained damage during all the fighting.

Hopping off the large male wolf, Elise quickly scarpered through the hole in the wall, only to come face to face with a surprised Dark Mage.

"Oh no-!"

"Come here brat," the Dark Mage hissed, moving to grab Elise, only for several wolves to slip in through the hole, leaping at the man who tried desperately to fling them off. "WHAT THE FUCK-ARGH-!?"

The wolves quickly brought the Dark Mage down, tearing his throat out as others swarmed past her, charging toward the temple. Behind her, Elise heard an audible thud as the male wolf howled whilst landing atop the wall, seemingly ordering the pack into battle.

Chaos quickly erupted across the temple grounds as the wolves moved to assist the embattled cultists in defending their home, quickly overwhelming the Dark Mages in the area and allowing the cultists to push them back to the stairs.

This also gave Elise time to get to the temple, her sickly form moving as fast as it could as she was forcibly shielded from the battle to her immediate left by multiple members of the wolf pack, guided away from the battle with sharp nudges.

However, before she was pushed into the temple itself, Elise noticed an all too familiar figure off in the distance, as Time itself seemed to slow down, allowing her to process the sight…

"G-Gentou…"

*POTD*

The taste of metal. The feel of hot air. The rush of adrenaline…

The scent of death.

Clad in a set of light ebony colored armor, Gentou was surrounded on all sides by half the Dark Mage army that had come to attack Kihetai.

All around him lay the bodies of his fellow cultists who had died in the village's defense. But beyond them were dozens of corpses from the Dark Mage's ranks, all slain solely by his hand.

They were fearful now, despite the numerical advantage. Gentou hadn't sustained so much as a scratch, yet his blade and armor were coated crimson, power rolling off of him in waves unlike any they had ever felt before.

To them, only the leaders of the Bharam Alliance had felt this powerful.

And yet, they refused to retreat. Gentou knew why, of course. Retreat would mean certain death for these men, which was the natural way of things among Dark Guilds. Worse still for those under the Bharam Alliance, who were little better than slaves.

Just as the old man contemplated continuing his massacre of the enemy, the sound of slow claps echoed across the battlefield. Ahead of him, the crowd of Mages parted, revealing the exit to the village where a single man was being escorted by several all too familiar creatures…

"Demons," Gentou hissed, gripping his blade all the tighter, his eyes dropping to the Guild Mark branded into the flesh of the lesser Demons.

One was unknown to him, though he had a good guess as to which it belonged to. The other though, that one was known all across Ishgar…

"It appears your reputation does you justice, High Priest Gentou, Warlord of the Cult of War," the Human smiled, giving Gentou a mocking half bow. "You dole out death well for a retired man. Respect where it is due, from one Dark Mage to another…"

"You can save your respect," Gentou spat in reply, startling the Human troops around him, though the man ahead seemed only amused by his defiant tone.

"Very well. Lord Mard Geer was quite insistent I congratulate you though," the well-dressed man continued, adopting a relaxed stance. "To receive a kill order from the mysterious one the leaders of the Bharam Alliance convene with is no joke."

Taking in the strange man's appearance, he could tell right away the man was a Demon in disguise. Dressed in a formal black suit with a burgundy undershirt, the Demon had short silky black hair, piercing black eyes and a strangely fit yet strong body. Almost unnaturally so as he stood at a whopping eleven feet tall.

"Let me guess, one of the Nine Circles," Gentou snarled, looking around at the Human troops who all bore the Guild Mark of the one he'd rescued Elise from all those years ago. "The one in charge of Lion's Sin?"

"Indeed," the Demon smirked. "And I am its Guild Master, and one of the Overseers of the Circles…"

An Officer In The Tartaros Guild

Overseer Of The Final Gate

The Gate Of Central Purgatorio

SSS Rank Dark Mage

The Devil's Far-Reaching Hand

Rapha Zorm

Rapha's form shimmered as four wings sprouted from his back, a set of long and pointed red horns erupting from his forehead. The Demon's body didn't increase in size, but it did take on a darker hue of skin tone to match his wings, his canines lengthening slightly along with his nails.

"Ahh… How good it feels to be out of that hideous form," Rapha chuckled, cracking his neck to relieve some built up pressure. "Now then, where was I? Oh yes, that's right…"

Power exploded from the Demon's form as they opened up their reserves. Fires immediately flared up all around their position, with most of the Humans from the Lion's Sin Dark Guild being immediately immolated just by being within Rapha's proximity.

"Hehehehehe…HAHAHAHAHA!"

Rapha Zorm (Etherious Aura Etherious Form Suppressed) – 212 Million MPI

Gentou steeled himself, flicking his blade so fast it sliced through the flames, extinguishing them in an instant. In that moment, Rapha's laughter died, though the smile on his face only grew wider as he studied the old man's form closely.

"Ah, so Lord Mard Geer wasn't lying about you… A Dark Mage who refused to swear fealty to the Alliance, and one with the strength to back it up. I do so love it when my prey can actually fight back!"

Gentou didn't respond, instead simply unleashing his Magical Reserves as his body became surrounded in a black Aura, the wind in the area ripping up several of the nearby buildings and sending any nearby survivors flying.

Gentou Kageuta (Slightly Rusty Slightly Suppressed) – 244 Million MPI

"If you think for even one moment I'll yield to vermin such as you, then you're dead wrong," Gentou stated firmly, pointing directly at the Demon. "You dare sully these sacred steps with your Demonic filth! In the name of the War God, I shall purge you from the face of Earthland itself!"

"Just try it, Human," Rapha cackled with glee, as the pair vanished, appearing high above Kihetai in a vicious clash that shook the mountains to their core.

*POTD*

"…And then I got pushed into the temple by the wolves," Elise sighed, as the pair stood at the entrance to the temple itself, looking out across the ruins of the village. "Back then, it didn't even register to me just how absurdly powerful Gentou actually was. It wasn't until I met God Serena for the first time years later that I really understood it."

"I'm surprised a guy as strong as him wasn't an SSSS Rank Dark Mage if he was that strong?"

"I think it came down to the fact that Gentou never once cared to boast his full strength, even back during the days he'd lead the raids. He always suppressed his power, always held back. I can't even imagine how pathetic my power back then would have seemed to him…"

"Hey, come on now, you know that's not what he cared about at all! From all of what you told me, he saw you like his own Daughter, right?"

Elise stilled, looking off to her left to avoid his gaze as she sniffed lightly. The God Slayer knew his words were true, all too well in fact, but it still hurt to hear it aloud, even after all the years gone by.

"Yeah… Well, that aside," Elise replied awkwardly, pulling herself together as she turned away from the rising sun that had almost fully illuminated the ruined village. "As Gentou fought Rapha, the wolves led me inside the temple."

"Why," Natsu asked curiously, as the pair slowly entered. "Was it to keep you safe?"

"Not exactly. You see, Lady Fate had other plans that day…"

*POTD*

Elise found herself practically herded into the temple, where several severely wounded Priests lay, along with a dozen or so frightened children. The corridors surrounding the central chamber were rife with the sound of combat, with guttural roars and death curdles echoing off of every wall.

Once she managed to right herself, the panicked girl found herself being dragged up toward the dais holding the Ebony Sword by one of the wolves, right as multiple Dark Mages burst into the room.

"We've found the central chamber!"

"Look there, that's the sword Lord Rapha seeks!"

"Grab it!"

The Dark Mages moved to attack everyone in the room, with the panicked Cultists and children being completely blindsided by them. As they were cut down, the wolf with Elise dragged her much more forcefully toward the blade, before letting go and grabbing the hilt of the blade in its mouth, bringing it over to her.

"Y-You want me to hold it," Elise gasped, as several explosions went off nearby, causing her to stumble and nearly fall off the dais. "B-But I'm not someone the War God would want to wield it!? I'm not strong, not like Gentou-!"

"Oi! Someone take that brat and the mutt out," a Dark Mage shouted, pointing directly at them. "They're taking the sword!"

"Get her!"

The Dark Mages moved to attack, only for the other wolves to pounce on them, some being killed by Spellfire as others worked together to take down the intruders.

In the cacophony, Elise fell off of the dais, a sharp spike of pain running through her back as she rolled close to the wall to avoid being targeted. Coughing up some blood, Elise panted as the wolf leaped off the dais to land next to her, growling as it again offered her the blade.

"A-Are you sure," the young girl whispered, tentatively reaching out to grasp it, only for the entire temple to shake violently as a colossal aerial slash attack tore a giant hole through it, slicing the dais clean in half.

The wolf dropped the sword right as Gentou came crashing through the far wall, his form bloodied and his left arm missing entirely.

"G-GENTOU!"

"Elise," the old man hissed, clearly in a lot of pain as he surveyed the situation in the room. "Thank goodness you're alright…"

Gentou was immediately back on guard as Rapha came crashing down through the roof, his eyes manic and his form heavily damaged. The Demon was missing a wing, his torso having several chunks gouged out of it as he staggered forward whilst losing blood.

"The blade," Rapha panted, noticing Elise's hand half extended toward it. "GET AWAY FROM THE BLADE, HUMAN FILTH!"

Rapha went to strike Elise, only for Gentou to intercept the Demon, blocking him with his blade as the pair started flashing about the room exchanging a vicious series of blows.

"GENTOU!"

"Run! Run Elise," the old man roared, as the pair clashed, their Magical Power causing the entire area to tremor violently. "RUN!"

Before Elise could even contemplate running, the wolf took the opportunity to force the blade into her hand. The hilt was slobbery, but the moment it made contact with her palm, that was the last thing her senses could register…

"AH-!"

Frozen in place, Elise felt like time had come to a complete stop, as everything in the room seemingly froze, including herself. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move so much as an inch, her weak form feeling even weaker.

And then, a voice whispered in her ear, gentle yet firm. It was feminine, sounding amused, yet pitying, giggling as she felt a weight settle over her.

"Well now, what have we here," the voice purred lightly. "A new hand touches the blade of my predecessor it seems… But I wonder, are you worthy where so many others weren't?"

'I-Is this God,' Elise thought to herself, unable to verbally respond to the voice that seemed to be all around her. 'No, wait… This voice is that of a woman!?'

"You catch on quickly, young one. Then again, your mind was much more open than the rest of those who pledged themselves to the Art of War, wasn't it? And yes, I can hear your every thought, child. Do not resist me, and all shall be well…"

The moment the voice fell silent, she could almost physically feel something push into her brain, sifting through memories so fast she thought her mind would explode.

And then, as quickly as the feeling had come, it faded.

"An abusive childhood like few others. The thirst for knowledge to avoid that fate again. A love for those who prove themselves kind and just, whilst harboring a secret hatred of those who would wrong you and those you hold dear…"

Elise didn't respond, knowing full well that this being had just read everything about her like she was an open book. In less than ten seconds, this woman knew her better than she probably knew herself.

"You hold much promise and potential, young one. What's more, you desire to be like my current Champion of Kihetai, Gentou," the voice continued, as Elise felt the oppressive force keeping her frozen lessen just enough so she could speak.

"G-Goddess," Elise gasped out, eliciting an amused giggle from the voice in her head.

"Indeed I am, young one. Where all others believed a War Goddess to be impossible, you never did. But go on, ask what I can feel is on your mind…"

"W-Well, why would you want to speak to someone as weak and feeble as me," Elise asked shyly, feeling the presence recoil slightly, before returning in a much gentler, kinder way. "I'm nothing compared to the other people here, and my Wasting Curse-?"

"The ailments you suffer from are indeed great, but not something that would affect my judgement. There is more to a Warrior than mere physical prowess, as I know you understand. So, tell me, what would you do if you were to become my chosen, Elise?"

"I would use my power to fight back against people who would damage people like my Dark Guild parents did to me," Elise replied instantly. "I hate them! People who can viciously wound someone like my parents did to me…"

"Zero hesitation. You didn't even stutter when you spoke with such conviction," the Goddess replied, clearly impressed as Elise felt a soothing calm flow through her. "I can tell you firmly believe this, don't you?"

"I-I've only ever told Gentou about it," Elise replied quietly, as she felt the Goddess sift through her body. "He told me he felt the same…"

"I bet he did," the Goddess replied, seemingly knowing something she didn't about her guardian. "I like you. In fact, I really like you."

"W-What!?"

"Oh yes, I mean what I say! In fact, I think I could forge you into someone great," the Goddess replied, as Elise felt her body stiffen as the Goddess surveyed the room. "Ah. It seems that you are in a rather troublesome situation right now. Aren't you?"

Elise's eyes moved toward Gentou, widening to see that he'd stabbed Rapha through the head, whilst the Demon had put his fingers through the old man's neck. It was obvious that the pair had taken each other out, dying standing up amidst the battle around them.

"G-Gentou!"

"You will grow from this, child," the Goddess replied softly, as Elise felt her entire body begin to burn up. "I've made my decision. I shall choose you as my new student!"

Elise could only internally scream, her body thrashing about as she felt pain unlike any she'd ever felt in her entire life.

As she thrashed about, the Goddess had set about rewriting her DNA, twisting her form in all ways to resemble her own in childlike form. Once the process was complete, Elise could only lay there, panting heavily, yet feeling better than she'd ever felt in her entire life.

"Y-You… My organs don't hurt…!?"

"That's not all," the Goddess replied, clearly rather happy with how Elise had been altered. "I've completely rewritten your genetic code to be a match for my own. You are my chosen now, a First Generation War God Slayer. And now, my Daughter by even blood."

"Y-You what," Elise gasped, as time suddenly resumed around her, snapping her back to reality as she struggled to process everything that had just happened. "W-Wha-!?"

"There isn't much time," the Goddess snapped, bringing her full focus back onto her savior. "Though changed, you are still vulnerable as you are now. You must use your newfound body to escape this place, and quickly."

"O-Okay," Elise replied shakily, as she looked toward the wolf who had placed the blade in her hand, the beast seemingly nodding before running off to join the rest of his pack in holding back the Dark Mages.

Turning back toward the battle, Elise looked toward Gentou and Rapha. The two had indeed killed one another, their respective attacks preventing the pair from falling to the ground, as several tears escaped the newly minted War God Slayer.

"Thank you Gentou… Thank you for everything," Elise whispered, turning away from the battle, only to pause at the last moment. "I'll make you proud…Dad."

Turning to look back at Gentou, a knife was thrust right into her neck, startling Elise as she stumbled backward, clutching at it with wide eyes.

Her attacker? The traitorous boy who had sold the village out due to his jealousy and lust for power. Even now, his eyes were on the sword in her right hand, his face full of greed and hatred.

"Finally got what you deserve, you freak!"

The kid waited for Elise to collapse, yet she didn't fall. Even Elise herself seemed somewhat surprised that, aside from the pain, she didn't feel herself dying in any way whatsoever.

"We're going to need to work on your sensory abilities dear," the Goddess sighed, as Elise ripped the knife out of her throat, the wound rapidly regenerating until there was no sign of a wound at all. "Your body isn't quite ready to handle God Slayer Regeneration, but I can mitigate the negative effects for now. Just don't let that happen again, else you might die for real."

Clutching the knife with her left hand, she squeezed the hilt so hard it became compacted, much to the shock of both herself, and the now frightened boy.

"N-No way! Y-You really are some kind of freak," the boy gasped, as Elise tossed the knife aside, before shooting him a glare of her own.

Unlike the glares of the sickly and frail Elise, this one had serious weight behind it. Her body, having increased in both height and mass, now had her a head taller than the boy. This made her rather intimidating, even though she was merely nine years old, as she looked like she was in her mid-teens.

"You sold out Kihetai," Elise growled, gripping the Ebony Sword tightly, feeling anger bubbling to the surface as she recalled all the death and destruction she'd seen. "All of this, it's all your fault!"

"Its not my fault! It's all YOUR fault! Y-You FREAK!"

"I hate that word," Elise muttered to herself, as she started to slowly advance toward the kid, who realized he'd just messed up. "I hate that word…"

"S-Stay away from me-GUEGH-!"

Swinging the sword in a clumsy upward strike, Elise sliced the boy's throat and face open, blood spraying across her as he fell backward, gurgling loud enough to draw the attention of the entire room.

"Interesting… But this may have had some unintended consequences," the Goddess spoke within her mind, though it was obvious she was impressed.

"What the fuck…!?"

"That girl just cut the new kid's face open!"

"Look at her, she's looks creepy as Hell!"

"What a freak!"

The moment one of the Dark Mages called her a freak, Elise slowly looked over in their direction, eyes wide and pupils dilated as the boy's blood slowly dripped down her form. Both the Dark Mages and the Cultists recoiled, as something different flooded the room.

"Oh, dear me," Elise sighed, shaking her head as her entire form relaxed in a most unnatural way. "It seems you pushed her a little too far."

"The girl's lost it!"

"Let's just kill her!"

"I don't think so. After all this time I finally have a student who I can confidently say is worth my time. I don't believe I'll be letting any of you escape… Cultist or Dark Mage, all shall die by my hand!"

Before anyone had a chance to react, Elise's form vanished, as a powerful blast of black wind smashed into the nearest group, ripping them to shreds and sending the remaining Mages flying out of the temple.

"I am Eliza Faulkner, Goddess of War," the voice of Elise boomed as she slowly advanced on a dying Dark Mage, sword raised high. "And this world shall once again know War!"

*POTD*

"That sounds a bit theatrical, even for her?"

"Yeah. Mother said it was more to scare some of them off, since my body wasn't exactly trained to be fighting at that level," Elise replied, as they reached the central chamber of the temple.

Looking around, it didn't take long for the pair to spot the skeletal remains of the numerous slain Cultists and Dark Mages. But they weren't what the pair had come to see. No, it was the skeletal remains of Gentou, still locked into place alongside the remains of Rapha, the Demon's form a stark reminder of the differences between man and Demon.

"Dad," Elise whispered, as the pair stood before Gentou's remains. "After all these years, you're still standing."

Natsu gently placed a hand on Elise's shoulder as she laughed, several tears escaping her as she shook her head. It was obvious she didn't really know how to handle what she was feeling right now, her mind undoubtedly a mess of emotions.

"It took me years to come back here," the God Slayer sighed, turning to face Natsu, gently taking his hand with her own. "Truth is, I was just too scared to come back and give Gentou the burial he deserved."

"I get it. Trauma, no matter how long ago it was, never truly leaves you. I'm glad I could be here for you Elise, so take all the time you need."

"That's thoughtful of you, but we both know we don't have that kind of time," Elise sighed, wiping her eyes with her free hand. "Shit… Um… Would you-?"

"Help you bury him? Of course. I can use my Gravity Magic to keep him together so he can rest in peace."

"Thank you," Elise croaked, reaching forward and hugging Natsu tightly. "You and the others make what I suffered back then worth it."

Natsu didn't respond verbally, instead choosing to simply hug her back. The pair remained in a silent embrace for several more moments, before deciding to part so they could bury Gentou.

With practiced ease, Natsu focused his Magic on Gentou's skeleton, gently lifting it and floating it outside as Elise dug the old man a proper grave. Once it was done, he gently placed him down, before levitating the old man's sword closer.

"I'm surprised Gentou's sword is still intact," Elise mused, as she reached out to take it. Not a scratch on it, even after all this time?"

"Well, there are many special swords out there that are made to last. Harkon Avery has three of them, as you know."

"…Do you think I should keep his sword?"

"Honestly, yeah. You considered him to be your Father, right? I'm sure that had he gone on to die naturally, he'd have given you that sword anyway. And even ignoring that, you'd be keeping a part of him with you."

"Right," Elise nodded, as Natsu passed her the sheath. "Senso No Nageki. That's another name for War's Lament, the name of the blade. Gentou told me about it when I was eight."

"Senso No Nageki, eh? Seems fitting for a guy like him," Natsu replied, as he waved his hand to push the dirt over the hole, burying Gentou's body. "Seems like you Lament War a lot more now, don't you?"

"A side effect of getting older and understanding the consequences of it," the God Slayer laughed bitterly. "We kill people so easily, never looking back to see the consequences of our actions…"

"Who is left behind by those we kill? What could they have gone on to do with their lives, had we only spared them? Would it even matter? You can ask yourself these questions all day, yet never come close to knowing a true answer."

With a sigh, Natsu sat down on the grass nearby, with Elise joining him moments later. She noticed he seemed troubled by his own words, looking up at the sky with a sad and distant gaze.

"Are you alright?"

"…I can't tell you much, but I don't want to lie to you either," the Hybrid sighed, still looking toward the sky above. "During the meeting with Hisui and Grand Chairwoman Gilda, I've been asked to do something."

"Something you can't tell me, or anyone else about?"

"It has to stay secret until I do it," Natsu sighed, finally looking in her direction. "But if I do it, then there's absolutely no way for me to ever go back to being accepted by the people of this world. There simply won't be a way for that to happen…"

"How big is this thing we're talking?"

"Big enough that it will affect the entire world, probably for centuries to come."

"Shit… That seems pretty unfair that you can't even talk about it to anyone?"

"Believe me, you'll understand why when it happens. I can scarcely believe the High Council even agreed to allow me to do something like this in the first place…"

"Well, I can't say I know what it is you've been asked to do," Elise began, as she scooted closer. "But what I do know is that you've got a solid group of people who will stick by you no matter what. We didn't abandon you when we learned you were E.N.D, and we won't after you do whatever it is Hisui and Gilda asked you to do!"

"I admire your conviction Elise, but your words will be put to the test once the war starts," Natsu replied quietly, looking back up at the sunny sky. "Damned if I do, yet damned if I don't."

"You won't lose us Natsu," Elise replied firmly, moving to sit directly in front of him as she forced him to look directly at her again. "We've been through too much. Hell, you're gonna be one of the only people who I'll have left in the end thanks to my Immortality! You're stuck with me buddy!"

"If you stick with me after I do what I've got to do, I'll be eternally grateful. Truly."

"I'll hold you to that, Mister Hybrid!"

The pair slowly got up and paced around the site of Gentou's grave, with Elise opting to say one final series of words to the old man in private, before they were to head on back. Several minutes later, she rejoined him.

"You good?"

"Yeah. It's time to put this place behind me forever."

"I won't tell anyone what happened here today. Not even Erza if she asks."

"I'll probably tell Erza and Mira on my own time," Elise replied slowly, as they moved to the main crumbling steps near the temple. "But thanks for keeping it to yourself."

"Let's head back to the Inn."

"You bet. I'm gonna get some more sleep I think, then get some training in," the God Slayer yawned, as Natsu opened a Gate back to the Honey Bone Inn. "What about you?"

"I've got an important meeting with Jellal and Anna Heartfilia," Natsu replied, his entire demeanor shifting as she sensed him preparing for the long-awaited meeting. "She may just have the answers I need to make sense of a lot of things in my early life…"

"Well, we'd better not keep her waiting then," Elise smiled, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the Gate. "Let's go!"

With a slightly amused nod, Natsu stepped in after her, leaving behind the ruins of Kihetai Village, and the grave of its last leader.

Finally, after so many years Elise could truly say she felt at peace.